Source:UNCSD Secretariat (2010) Questionnaire for the Member States on Experiences, Success Factors, Risks and Challenges with Regard to Objective and Themes of UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD)

EPEAT, which stands for Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool, is an easy-to-use, on-line tool helping institutional purchasers select and compare computer desktops, laptops and monitors based on their environmental attributes.

Desktops, laptops and monitors that meet 23 required environmental performance criteria may be registered in EPEAT by their manufacturers in 40 countries worldwide. Registered products are rated Gold, Silver or Bronze depending on the percentage of 28 optional criteria they meet above the baseline criteria. EPEAT ratings are product assessments against lifecycle environmental performance criteria. These criteria are developed through stakeholder consensus and are contained in the IEEE 1680 Family of Standards for Environmental Assessment of Electronic Products. EPEAT operates an ongoing verification program to assure the credibility of the registry. In 2008, U.S. purchases of EPEAT registered laptops, desktops, and monitors over conventional products resulted in reductions in the use of toxic materials, including mercury, by 1,021 metric tons and reduction of over 1.57 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions over the useful life of the products.